Cessna 177RG N1527H

Summary

On 29 December 1993 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N1527H was involved in an accident near Van Horn, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 December 1993 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Van Horn, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.0398, -104.8309

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N1527H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Angelo → El Paso

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94FA057

3 people died.

THE PILOT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED FROM VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER, THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO UPDATE HIS WEATHER BRIEFING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT ON A DAY VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AFTER ENCOUNTERING LOW CEILINGS, FOG, AND TURBULENCE OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITHIN 100 MILES OF HIS DESTINATION. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL, BREAKING UP IN FLIGHT PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS SPREAD OVER 2,263 FEET ON A HEADING OF 030 DEGREES. A WEATHER BRIEFING RECEIVED ABOUT 5 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT DID NOT INCLUDE THE CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED. AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 THE PILOT WAS INFORMED OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE VAN HORN AIRPORT VIA UNICOM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.